Apparatus for a power laser including solid optical bench

Abstract

Known power lasers have outstanding electrical, optical and mechanical properties, in spite of different temperature conditions during switching on and during operation. However, they are expensive. These properties are retained, despite cheaper production costs in that, starting from a solid monolithic optical bench, several mirror blocks and intermediate blocks are mechanically rigidly connected to this, and are shaped such that they do not deflect during chip-removing machining, and those bores necessary for the laser path are only then provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for a power laser of polygonal configuration, with mirror blocks in the corner regions, which mirror blocks have an essentially monolithic body,   with intermediate blocks in the straight paths between the mirror blocks, which intermediate blocks have an essentially monolithic body,   with at least one straight partial bore in each mirror block, with a respective through bore in each intermediate block, the mirror blocks and the intermediate blocks being fine-machined for the gas-tight and centered mounting of laser tubes, and also with an optical bench having corresponding corners, which carries the mirror blocks and the intermediate blocks on its periphery,   characterized by the following features:   (a) the optical bench is solid and monolithic,   (b) the mirror blocks and intermediate blocks are at least in their majority connected in a mechanically rigid manner to the optical bench, so that they do not permanently deform relative to the bench during chip-removing machining processes, at least during fine machining processes on the mirror blocks.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical bench is machined from the solid. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical bench is made of an aluminum alloy. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical bench is made of an alloy resistant to sea water. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 2, characterized in that it is made of brass. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 2, characterized in that it is made of concrete polymer. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of the blocks is machined from the solid together with the bench. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 7, characterized in that the mirror blocks are machined from the solid together with the bench. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the intermediate blocks are machined from the solid together with the bench. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a few of the blocks are at least of essentially the same height as the thickness of the bench. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1, characterized in that the laser segment is parallel to, and offset from the midplane of the apparatus by the same measurement as is necessary to give sufficient surrounding material for one of two mirror fastening threads in the mirror blocks. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1, characterized in that the thread is the inner thread of a pressed-in threaded bushing which is of a harder and/or tougher material than the mirror block material. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a few of the blocks are of at least essentially the same material as the bench. 
     
     
       14. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1, characterized in that the partial bores and the through bores are first drilled together, with a dimension smaller than specified. 
     
     
       15. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1 or 14, characterized in that the partial bores and the end bores are drilled out together. 
     
     
       16. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1, characterized in that the partial bore and the through bores are fine-machined in the same apparatus clamping position. 
     
     
       17. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 16, characterized in that the partial bores and through bores are fine machined only in the end region, essentially where the sealing device of the mounting has its sealing face. 
     
     
       18. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 16, characterized in that the partial bores and the end bores are fine machined with a step reamer. 
     
     
       19. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1, characterized in that the through bores have a smaller diameter than the partial bores, at least after the fine machining processes. 
     
     
       20. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1, characterized in that each half of the through bores is machined out from the adjacent partial bore. 
     
     
       21. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate blocks are connected with at least one bottom strip to the optical bench, which bottom strip has a substantially smaller cross section than the intermediate block at the face seen in the direction of the midplane, and that at least one cooling device is provided in the heat transfer region between the bottom strip and the bench. 
     
     
       22. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 21, characterized in that a cooling bore is provided in the bottom strip itself. 
     
     
       23. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 21, characterized in that a cooling bore arrangement is provided in the region of the transition from the bottom strip to the optical bench. 
     
     
       24. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 23, characterized in that the cooling bore arrangement includes several parallel individual bores. 
     
     
       25. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 24, characterized in that the individual bores are connected to a common distributor volume. 
     
     
       26. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 25, characterized in that the individual bores have different diameters, to improve of the equalization of the flow resistance paths. 
     
     
       27. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1, characterized in that notches which increase the heat transfer to the optical bench are located on both sides of the intermediate blocks. 
     
     
       28. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1, characterized in that a cooling fan flange for a coaxial cooling fan (gas circulation appliance) is inscribed in the bench, and that weight-rigid [sic] elastic coupling elements are provided between the bench and the flange. 
     
     
       29. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 28, characterized in that the coupling elements are springs which are substantially weaker in the direction parallel to the midplane than perpendicular thereto. 
     
     
       30. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 29, characterized in that the coupling elements are leaf springs. 
     
     
       31. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 28, characterized in that the number of coupling elements corresponds to the number of corners. 
     
     
       32. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 28, characterized in that four coupling elements are provided. 
     
     
       33. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 28, characterized in that the coupling elements lie in the region of the diametral connecting line of the mirror blocks. 
     
     
       34. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 28, characterized in that the ends of the coupling elements are connected to the optical bench. 
     
     
       35. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 28, characterized in that the middle regions of the coupling elements are connected to the flange. 
     
     
       36. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 28, characterized in that the coupling elements are machined out integrally from the material between the bench and the flange. 
     
     
       37. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 28, characterized in that the coupling elements extend concentric to a geometric axis which is perpendicular to the geometric midplane and intersects the diagonals between the mirror blocks. 
     
     
       38. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 28, characterized in that the flange is separated from the bench by an annular groove, with the exception of the regions determined by the coupling elements. 
     
     
       39. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 28, characterized in that the coupling elements are arranged centrally to the geometric midplane. 
     
     
       40. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1, characterized in that the mirror blocks and/or intermediate blocks and/or optical bench are machined out of a coherent large piece. 
     
     
       41. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1, characterized in that the laser path lies essentially in the midplane of the apparatus. 
     
     
       42. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the end region of a partial bore is produced with at least the following end region of the following through bore at least during the fine machining in the same apparatus clamping position. 
     
     
       43. Apparatus for a power laser according to claim 15, characterized in that the partial bore and the through bores are fine-machined in the same apparatus clamping position.